Toy Soldier & Model Figure Magazine (1 Viewer)

[Leadmen]

I heard they are moving the magazine to the US due to high printing and mailing costs. The new magazine will be bi-monthly with more content and prices will be lower. Most of their subscribers reside in the US. The next issue might be a few weeks late. Anyone else hear this? John

 

[Vicknor]

I heard they are moving the magazine to the US due to high printing and mailing costs. The new magazine will be bi-monthly with more content and prices will be lower. Most of their subscribers reside in the US. The next issue might be a few weeks late. Anyone else hear this? John

Latest magazine is listed as 'August/September' - wonder how that works with my annual subscription?

However, understand it's difficult as if you removed FL and K&C from the last two issues there would be about two pages left.

 

[Leadmen]

Latest magazine is listed as 'August/September' - wonder how that works with my annual subscription?

However, understand it's difficult as if you removed FL and K&C from the last two issues there would be about two pages left.

They will add the difference in your subscription to the new 6 month subscription.

 

[theBaron]

Well, we're hearing it from editor Stewart Hessney himself, in the latest issue, 219. Here's an except from his "From the Editor" introductory column:

...This edition brings exciting news on two fronts, starting with the magazine you're holding in your hands right now.
While other publishers are cutting back on their quality, we are bucking the trends. We are making a major relaunch of an already successful and longstanding TS&MF by moving all production to the United States.
This magazine format's size has be changed along with improving both the paper quality and binding. In addition, the editorial content has been expanded and TS&MF will now be available six times per year...​

The magazine is now 8"x10.5", where before it was 8"x11", and it's now bound, rather than stapled at the fold. The cost of a two-year subscription, which I take, does appear to have been reduced, to $134.99.

When this issue arrived, with a subscription renewal, I asked myself whether I would renew. I've subscribed since Issue #2, but it's gotten to the point where I don't get that much from the magazine, that I don't already get from the Internet. The product announcements and reviews are certainly available online nearly as instantly as they are made. I enjoy the show reviews, though, because they are better organized than almost all of the online content. But going from a monthly to a bi-monthly issue means that the magazine will become even staler by the time it arrives.

So, I haven't decided yet, but that's just inertia on my part. I also get "Toy Soldier Collector" which is also bi-monthly, and "Old Toy Soldier", which is quarterly. I used to get Bill Lango's magazine, too. I also get "FineScale Modeler". It took me 6 years to make up my mind to cancel cable TV, and if I do decide to drop any of the magazines, it might take me that long, too. As I said, inertia.

Prost!
Brad

 

[zblang]

I've decided to let all of my print toy soldier magazines lapse. By the time they arrive, I find I just quickly flip the pages as I've seen it all before. There are maybe 5 pages per issue, I really care about reading

 

[BHogan]

I agree with others that magazines are not the best way to learn about new releases. Mostly the releases being featured in the magazines have been released a couple months prior to printing. It's a problem that all print industries face. You'll hear about a major incident online or on social media well before it has time to appear in print in a newspaper or journal article. However, I really enjoy the magazines for their take on toy soldier shows and when people take the time to write an article that examines a battle or campaign through toy soldiers. Perhaps hard copies are going the way of the dodo, but I still enjoy getting my magazine in the mail and reading over it on Saturday morning with a cup of hot coffee. :salute:: {sm4}

Cheers,

Brendan

 

[BLReed]

I agree with others that magazines are not the best way to learn about new releases. Mostly the releases being featured in the magazines have been released a couple months prior to printing. It's a problem that all print industries face. You'll hear about a major incident online or on social media well before it has time to appear in print in a newspaper or journal article. However, I really enjoy the magazines for their take on toy soldier shows and when people take the time to write an article that examines a battle or campaign through toy soldiers. Perhaps hard copies are going the way of the dodo, but I still enjoy getting my magazine in the mail and reading over it on Saturday morning with a cup of hot coffee.

I agree mostly, but think magazines just have to be better. About six months ago there was an article featuring a well known forum member. The pictures accompanying the article were printed the size of postage stamps. A group of people at a London Show without naming them taken with a cell phone. Even at $135 a year I don't think there is enough money to employ a Photographer/Photo Editor. Even the good photos are just repeats of online photos. Some articles while a good try seem written with a sense of edited for lack of space.

I won't be renewing.

 

[Go for Broke]

For me, the real enjoyment of the magazine is looking at it several years later. I look at these magazines much more than my own toy soldiers. The magazine, including Toy Soldier Collector are really pricey, but I don't see much choice, but to get them.

 

[7th OVI]

It is a tough environment for hard copy magazines these days. They compete with other magazines and the internet as well. I use to get a number of ACW and military magazines and they all have since either stopped publishing, switched to social media or I dropped them because the information was either redundant to other sources, the magazine was poorly executed or dated by the time I got it. Chris

 

[theBaron]

I've decided to let all of my print toy soldier magazines lapse. By the time they arrive, I find I just quickly flip the pages as I've seen it all before. There are maybe 5 pages per issue, I really care about reading

For me, the real enjoyment of the magazine is looking at it several years later. I look at these magazines much more than my own toy soldiers. The magazine, including Toy Soldier Collector are really pricey, but I don't see much choice, but to get them.

Yep, that illustrates a dilemma in making my decision. Like Zach, I get through the mag in very short time, but I do value having them in my hard-copy reference library. I bought a lot of back issues of Campaigns and Military Modeling, for just that reason. On the other hand, those magazines are good references for figures made in the 60s and 70s, where the only info available really is just in hard-copy format. I've also accumulated a digital library of images for more recent items. Contemporary magazines fall somewhere in between, and the cost is something that weighs in the balance, too.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Jedburgh]

Hi

Has anyone in the UK(not a subscriber) got the latest issue? I have looked in local WH Smith and on Ebay but no joy. This thread mentioned moving production to US.